Bulletin Board

Consistent with its core mandate of advocating good local governance, LOGODEF proudly launched its latest work, Dr. Mariano J. Guillermo's "Measuring Municipal Performance and Forecasting Budgetary Requirements: The Tuba Experience" at the Strawberry Hall, RSDC Bldg., Benguet State University last December 5, 2008. With countries embracing democracy as a universal governance principle, focus on service delivery and sustainable development has continuously been emphasized, leading to the greater role local governments must portray as the state's frontline agents.

With the theme "Local Governance: Coping with Emerging Challenges," LOGODEF held the second of the Sosmeña Lecture-Series at the Strawberry Hall, RSBC Bldg., Benguet State University on December 5, 2008. The series of lecture discussions aims to provide a venue to identify issues of concern affecting local governance in so far as local government autonomy is concerned, as well as a concrete mechanism to advocate reforms in local governance. It also envisions the exploration of possible policy options to address these challenges and sustain the gains already achieved towards meaningful decentralization in the context of Philippine realities.

Congruent with the initiative towards meaningful replication of successful local governance throughout the country, efforts in identifying areas for amendments in pertinent legislations are becoming relevant. True to this project, the Local Government Development Foundation with the Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD) and the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO) spearheaded the first roundtable discussion last November 27, 2008. The event drew up a common list of priority legislative measures. With the theme Decentralization Issues and Reform Proposals, relevant issues which covered the broad themes of local fiscal administration and inter-governmental relations are classified.

KAS Singapore and LOGODEF in cooperation with the City of Olongapo headed by the Hon. Mayor James Gordon, Jr. held the highly anticipated 16th East and Southeast Asia Network for Better Local Governments (ESEANet) from November 19-21, 2008 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

LOGODEF signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Senate Economic and Planning Office (SEPO), the Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD) and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) on Wednesday, 05 November 2008. This collaboration is consistent with their shared vision of providing directions for local governance reforms through gathering key stakeholders in a National Conference. This initiative is designed to review decentralization-related issues pursuant to the objectives of (1) adopting a common legislative agenda for reform; (2) establishing support from legislators on specific reform areas and push for the passage of these reform bills in Congress; and (3) institute a means of periodic review of accomplished area for reform.

Reinvent state institutions. That’s what is needed for a state to sustain itself and weather the demands of globalization, LOGODEF Executive Director Edmund Tayao stressed during his presentation for the 2nd United Cities and Local Governments – Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) Congress in Pattaya, Thailand last July.